What is an impact of increasing the kilovoltage peak (kVp) in radiography?

Increasing the kilovoltage peak (kVp) in radiography has a direct impact on the energy of the X-ray beam produced. As kVp is increased, the maximum energy of the X-ray photons generated also increases, resulting in higher beam energy. This is significant because higher energy beams are more capable of penetrating through matter, including body tissues.

The effect of an increased kVp means that the resulting images can be better at delineating different structures within the body, as high-energy beams are less likely to be absorbed by tissues. Consequently, this leads to improved image quality in terms of detail and clarity. Additionally, because higher-energy beams can penetrate denser tissues more effectively, radiographers can reduce the dose of radiation needed to achieve quality images.

In contrast, lower kVp levels result in less beam energy and are associated with higher contrast images but also higher doses of radiation. This balance is critical in radiographic imaging to maximize diagnostic quality while minimizing patient exposure.